Srila Prabhupada is the spiritual master of the founder of the
Eco-Yoga Villages, who undertook the tasks of establishing
Universal Love in the entire world and protecting Mother
Nature. Starting his mission in 1965 in New York City, Srila
Prabhupada managed, in just twelve years, to disseminate his
message throughout the entire planet.

Dear visitor or volunteer at any of the Eco-Yoga
Villages in this world, please, accept our fraternal
greetings!
The purpose of the magazine you have in your hands
is to make you aware of all the wonderful services
we offer at our different Eco-Yoga Villages, taking as
an example the first of them, which was founded in
Colombia - Varsana.
We invite you to take a look at the audio-visual
materials that provide information about the history
of each Eco-Yoga Village and its projects so that you
can connect with them easily. You can visit yogabazar.
com.
The Eco-Yoga Villages open their doors so that, in just
one day, you can receive information about specialized
conferences, seminars, workshops, eco- volunteering
or the opportunity to share our monastic life when
you stay with us for a longer time.
Feel yourself welcome, our purpose of life is to serve
you. We are very happy when people who have spent
time with us write how they have felt during their
stay, so that we can improve our services. Also, when
you recommend our place to friends.
For His infinite mercy, mother nature has given us
the opportunity to be guardians of one of the most
beautiful places on this planet, so that we can cordially
recieve you as his good son.

LOCATIONS IN
COLOMBIA AND THE WORLD
he Eco-Yoga Villages are tourist centers for
meditation, spiritual growth, study and training
at a worldwide level, where practical knowledge is
developed for the well-being of the inner self and
the care of nature, taking the wisdom of the ancient
scriptures of India, the Vedas, as the point of departure.
We offer courses in Yoga Inbound Meditation, Vedic
Astrology and the Vastu Sastra, as well as different
social services related to these practices that culminate
in the development of Universal Love and in the
willingness to become a Guardian of Mother Nature.

T

Their success has meant that even Lonely Planet
includes the Eco-Yoga Park in Argentina as one of the
most important places to visit in this country.

5

Yoga planetario / Yoga planetarium

Valle y río sagrado de los Incas / The Sacred River and Valley of the Incas

ur ancestors were characterized by understanding
and living in harmony with nature. With the passage of time, this understanding and way of living have
been gradually vanishing. Our Inbound Tours offer the
possibility of co-existing with nature in a positive way
so that people create a loving interchange with nature
and, through faith, accept the wisdom of nature.

Inbound Tours make this relationship possible because
they are based on mystical traditions such as the
science of yoga and vegetarianism. These tours offer
opportunities to engage in conscious activities where
you will have unforgettable experiences that take you
on a journey to your inner self. They are energetic oases
that allow you to grow spiritually through adventure
and meditation. Inbound Tours imprint wonderful
personal and family memories that help make you
aware that kindness and wisdom are the best qualities
for overcoming the difficulties of our daily lives and of
the world in which we live.
11

arsana is an Eco-Yoga Village with more than
forty years of experience, whose residents
have confirmed that aspects of Vedic culture can
be applied in a clear and practical way in daily life.
Varsana opens its doors to everyone interested in
participating in its daily work as a volunteer motivated
by a sincere desire to recover the elements of a sane,
organic and sustainable life. A life that helps us to
fill our emptiness and find answer to their questions
regarding different aspects of human existence.
Varsana brings together people from different parts
of Colombia and the world, interested in learning
about Vedic philosophy and a holistic lifestyle in
harmony with caring for and respecting Mother
Nature, helping them in their offer of love to Her.
Volunteers receive housing, lacto-vegetarian meals
and classes in yoga and the Vedic arts.

After the call of the Mamos of the Sierra Nevada of Santa
Marta to transform the planet into a place free of agricultural poisons and genetically modified organisms, our
program of agro-consciousness is playing an important
role in training people to be guardians of Mother Earth.
In this sense, it is the responsibility of the eco- villages
to teach their members, and also volunteers who help
them, about the science of permaculture as well as the
traditions of India. This implies the protection of animals,
through the promotion of a vegan or lacto-vegetarian lifestyle, as well as the preservation of the original seeds
that guarantees food security for the future.

Agriculture is one of the ways of worshiping God
that our ancestors have always taught us because it
generates an awareness of our sacred connection with
Mother Earth and the Creator. It is through it that we
can express our gratitude and honor the Supreme. It
is the breath of life given by our Universal Father in
a mystical connection with the seeds provided by the
Divine Mother, that makes the earth furnish us with all
the food we need for our daily sustenance.

The organic garden and the kitchen, as well as the
other ecological projects at Varsana Eco-Yoga Village,
are sanctuaries which together make it possible to live
in harmony with nature. This balance is complemented
by composting, which is the energy of food transformed
and returned to the same earth, along with the nutrients
produced by California worms and waste from the dry
toilets, as well as the preparation of natural insecticides
from liquid chili peppers, nettle, tobacco and neem,

among other things. All of these elements, together
with permaculture and Bio-dynamic Agriculture,
revitalize the relationship between those who cultivate
the earth and Mother Nature and produce a plagueresistant soil and better harvests.

The farmers of the garden of Pachamama are dedicated
to maintain and protect the natural equilibrium.
Through de University of Ancestral Wisdom UDSA,
they realize on-going courses in organic agriculture
and permaculture along with volunteer programs
through which persons, who wish to deepen their
knowledge regarding agro-consious techniques, can
experiment with these methods of cultivation in a
direct and practical way.

GOVINDA’S RESTAURANT
VEGETARIAN, ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE
The Eco-Yoga Villages are a source of inspiration
for promoting vegetarianism and organic natural
lifestyles. In this places impart practical and theoretical
teachings those who give their voluntary service and
those persons who eat there.

Supported by 1500 ‘Oki’ posters of consious awarness,
they promote a healthy alimentation, caretaking of the
planet, and love and compasion towards animals. ‘Oki’
is an animated character who portrays the Revolucion
of the Spoon, a movement that awakes consious
awareness through vegetarian food.

Stockyards, in addition to being an extreme scenario
for exploitation and abuse, generate multiple
environmental damages. In the case of water, especially,
over half the water consumed worldwide is used by
this industry. Also, it is responsible for 18% of all the
ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide emissions that
deteriorate our ozone layer.

After a course on the importance of seed banks with
the recognized intellectual and ecologist from India, Dr.
Vandana Shiva, Varsana began a program of providing
clean seeds to cultivators who did not have them. After
their harvests, they return 50% more than they received
to the bank. In this way, they fulfill the mandate, given
by the Mamos of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta in
Nabusimake, to expand organic farming throughout
the planet.

It is an opportunity that allows farmers and conscious
people in general, who want to farm organically, to
avoid having to resort to bank loans or to using GMOs,
certified and patented by the multinationals. Instead,
they are participating in a revolutionary initiative that
protects the original seeds of Mother Earth.

PRODUCTS, A HEALTHY CHOICE
The Eco-Yoga Villages produce a wide variety of
handmade products of the highest quality. These
products are natural, organic, healthy, nutritious and
friendly to Mother Nature. Our goals are to improve
not only your health but also your quality of life.

»» Charlas y reflexiones para el crecimiento personal
»» Meditaciones guiadas
»» Clases de cocina vegetariana
In Varsana, you can stay in the most cozy cottage, Bhumi, in
an area surrounded by mountains, forests and crystal-clear
water. It is the ideal place to fill yourself with peace, vitality
and spirituality.
If you prefer a more natural experience, you can bring a
tent and stay in one of the camping areas of the Eco-Village. You just need to register ahead of time so that we can
accommodate you and attend your needs in the best way
possible.
The Bhumi cottage offers the following additional services:

n 1983, Srila Harijan Maharaj, the spiritual master
of Bhakti Yoga in Colombia, discovered within the
almost impenetrable scrub, a tree from whose roots
flowed pure water. He recognized the healing and purifying properties of this precious liquid. Therefore, it is
always used in the offerings to the Cosmic Father and
the Divine Mother.

The word “temazcal,” from the Náhuatl temazcalli,”
means house or temple of steam, from “temaz,”
“steam,” and “calli,” “house.” It is a steam bath used in
traditional medicine and religion of Meso-American as
well as North American cultures. Although steam baths
have been used by many cultures around the world,
the Temazcal has been particularly important in the
indigenous American cultures as part of a daily bath as
well as a ritual or tool for holistic healing.
The temazcal brings great benefits to participants such
as:

»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»

Release of accumulated toxins.
Cleaning of the airways and the digestive system
Toning the nervous system
Relaxation of the body and mind
The oppurtunity to introspection and reflection
Feeling in the womb of Mother Earth
Connection, prayer and meditations
31

When the body and mind are over-worked, their
ability to function naturally and efficiently diminishes. Modern life makes it difficult to relax and
we have forgotten the natural ways of healing the
body, mind and spirit. We prefer quick fixes such
as pharmaceuticals, alcohol, drugs and various
entertainment activities that don’t provide the
answers to our essential problem.

Pessimism, insecurity, anxiety, stress, and
depression all manifest as pain and dissatisfaction
and are a product of a lack of positive and
profound meaning in our lives.
Holistic therapies help us to learn to receive
answers from within and to have access to
sources of inspiration and knowledge that provide
tools for improving our physical, mental and
spiritual condition. In Varsana, we offer different
therapeutic techniques such as:
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»
»»

ollowing the example of the Harmony School of
Conscious Art, founded in Germany in 1984,
Varsana is a space in which diverse artistic projects
come together for the purpose of thanking the Infinite
Cosmic Power for all the gifts He has given us as well
as to express our rejection of all forms of abuse that
humanity has irresponsibly perpetrated toward these
gifts from the universe.
Varsana features artistic genres such as:

Park of Krishna, OVERCOMING all obstacles
Varsana offers a walk along a path of artistic stone
sculptures, where you can find a different and unexpected
world in an ancient, indigenous sanctuary of this region.
These sculptures were carefully carved by various conscious
artists inspired by the classical, sacred scriptures of India.
They teach us about the existence of inner enemies that
need to be combated, if we are interested in advancing on
the soul’s journey towards perfection.

THE GODDESS OF FORTUNE IN VARSANA
This is a very specific and powerful yantra – a geometrical
representation of a mantra. It is a manifestation of the
physical form of the goddess of fortune. Meditating
on this invites Srimati Lakshmi into our lives, our
homes or workplaces, so that prosperity as well as
economic and spiritual abundance are never lacking.
Standing in front of the Lakshmi Yantra, we can feel the
loving presence of this energy of God as the Universal
Mother who gives us all the auspicious aspects to
our lives and the life of the planet. She motivates us
to find the balance between matter and spirit, with an
understanding that it is only possible to partake of the
abundance of Lakshmi, when we are dedicated to the
cultivation of our being and the well-being of others.

We belong to a mystical tradition of India with the same
ideals of protecting our Sacred Mother. Therefore, we
have created an alliance among the World Conscious
Pact - Ikwashenduna, the University of Ancestral
Widsom (UDSA) and the cultural ambassadors who are
part of the Chaski Fests as messengers of love.

Varsana and the rest of Eco-Yoga Villages are
formationcenters for guardians of the Earth who are
united in their goals and who are looking to weave
a network of love. We want to inspire institutions,
businesses and other organizations, along with the
entire planet, to recognize the rights of Mother Earth.
This is the only way to stop the unnecessary abuse
and exploitation of Her and Her different children who
inhabit the Earth.
39

Thanks to Varsana Ecological Gardens for opening its
doors for the dialog of wisdoms, for the caring of animals,
for offering song, dance, love and consciousness to life.

Varsana is the ancestral territory of the people of the
international community of Naturagente. This territory is
sacred with principles and also accomplishes the standards
of Ikwashenduna the Guardians of Mother Earth.

“My experience in Varsana is healing, confirming an old
vision that this is a monument to generate a coming
together, communication, a close network of different
spiritual traditions, an encounter with diversity”.

“We know, because of an inquiry, that Varsana was selected
for the vision of the Surpreme Spirit to re-establish the
connection with the Sierra Nevada Gonawindwa and to
protect the cosmic life of the natural beings, according to
the Mandate of Origin”.

The Eco-Yoga Villages are centers of synergy to become
aware of- and protect Mother Earth. They stand out for
being the stage for meetings with the traditional native
authorities of Colombia and other parts of the world,
as has been presented in the World Conscious Pact Ikwashendwna.

In a cosmic arrangement, Andean ancestral wisdom
united with the ancient wisdom of the Himalayas so
that, in 2012, Varsana was chosen by the indigenous
communities as the place to hold gatherings of the
ancestral communities of all of Abya Yala, the Americas.
We have also committed to keep the central fire of the
Kiva alive, ‘the heart of the Mother Earth’. A Kiva is
a circular excavation where prayers for healing and
expressing gratitude are said in Her honor.

Those who volunteer or attend seminars and other
activities of integration in Varsana are being trained to
be guardians of Mother Nature. They receive guidance
so that, after their visit, they feel qualified to take that
spirit back with them to their respective lives. That is
also the reason why we always extend an invitation
to schools, cultural Centers, embassies and other
organizations, which are interested in developing their
activities around the defense of the planetin the ecoyoga village Varsana.
41

Ancestral Wisdom Foundation
One of the most important Eco-Yoga Villages involved in inspiring the awakening of a consciousness of love and respect for Mother Nature, located in Santa Marta in Magdalena, Colombia.

There under the open sky, has been established
the University of Ancestral Wisdom (UDSA). It is
a repository of transcendental knowledge, which
motivates and encourages human beings to become
Guardians of Mother Nature. The goal is to develop the
ability and the desire to share and spread the messages
that are the legacy of the native cultures of the world
to all of humanity.

Through the personal and virtual courses, all of the
teachers impart the knowledge that has united the native communities of the planet in relation to sustainable agricultural systems. In this way, the ancestral arts
are promoted and artisanal arts and crafts made by
hand from organic materials are sold. The Eco-Yoga
Villages provide a home for this initiatives.

The courses are taught by traveling teachers who live
in the jungles of the planet. The villages also participate as Ikwashendwna booster-cells, to expand environmental awareness and increase the amount of territory
that is free of GMOs and agro-toxins.

The UDSA invites you to help us to create a library with
all the appropriate audio-visual and written information, and to continue spreading this wisdom. Also, the
university encourages people who wish to participate
voluntarily in the organization and to teach of courses
to do so, as well as to collect donations that will facilitate the expansion of the Eco-Yoga Villages and different
ways of promoting ancestral wisdom.

THE SUMAPAZ SCHOOL
The Agro-ecological School Project, Guardians of Sumapaz, located in Varsana, is an educational alternative for all children to awaken their natural interest in
protecting, respecting and loving Mother Earth. It also
provides positive motivation for growing up healthy,
conscious and full of life. Organic gardening, waste management and correct use of natural resources are some
of the topics that they learn. They are a practical way
of being in contact with nature. Surrounded by trees,
varied crops, pure air, crystal-clear water and a diverse
landscape, children increase their sensitivity and appreciation for Mother Earth. It is, at the same time, an ideal
environment for playing and learning.

We believe it is important to transmit and plant the
seeds of this knowledge in children so that our ancestral
culture of respect, protection and care toward Mother
Earth can always continue and the bonds of love created
by our ancestors remain strong and continue bearing
good fruits. This is an experience that our childeren can
live every weekend.

KIVA AND Yoga Planetarium
A Truly is a cone-shaped, anti-seismic building constructed in harmony with nature. It brings us closer to
developing a simple life and to living in grace with Mother Nature and with God. Its construction on a circular
base is an invitation to meditation and spirituality. The
Yoga Planetarium is a group of Trulys arranged in a
specific and symbolic way. Their construction has been
a real adventure in architectural research and an exciting challenge for their builders.
To talk about the Trulys is to talk about the transcendental dedication of an ancient culture, of a heavenly
message that calls for a commitment of the soul. They
do not demonstrate the power and defiant intelligence
of man, but rather they express the power of nature, its kindness, richness, harmonious, simplicity and
beauty.

It would seem that man and nature are shaking hands
again, that man has returned in search of a forgiving
hug and to find the treasure of his original and grateful
self. This is the natural result of a sincere prayer to
heaven for the purpose of making an offering of love to
Mother Nature, through a simple, ecological, beautiful
and spiritual construction, that follows the principle of
“simple life, high thinking.”
49

Truly- The tree of faith
The truly of faith is a beautiful natural space that has
a tree of religions carved in wood in the center. Every
branch of this tree has captured a different symbol
from the most important mystical traditions from this
world. In the center of the trunk, we find a heart, representing the divined love that feeds and sustains all
beliefs and spiritual practices. They are united by the
same goals: Universal Love, union in diversity and the
service toward others. The roots of the tree symbolize the path towards spirituality and the trunk, with its
strength and stability, represents faith.

We cannot live without faith because this is the ability
to trust and believe. When our faith diminishes, we
experience distress, fear and anxiety. Of all the types of
faith, the one that connects us with the source of love
and creation is the most beautiful and healing because
it allows us to have a higher goal in life and to direct
our efforts and activities toward the well-being of
everyone.

SACRED MOUNTAIN
This natural monument honors the Govardhan Hill in
Vrindavan, India. This mystical and sacred manifestation represents protection from the power of the senses for the yogi on the spiritual path.
Originally, the Govardhan Hill was a place of pilgrimage
for all visitors, mystics and yogis who pay tribute to it
by walking around it and receiving eternal blessings of
bliss, devotion and love for God. Any object or stone one
finds in Govardhan is considered a direct expansion
of this hill, since it is a divine, spiritual manifestation.
This is why in the Varsana Eco-Yoga Village, there is
a stone brought directly from the Govardhan Hill. It
beautifies, blesses and illumines the Eco-Yoga Village
and all visitors who admire It, meditate with It or pay
homage to it with flowers and fruit like offers of love.

THE VYASADEVA CAVE OF WISDOM
In the majestic mountain landscape surrounding
Varsana, an imposing rock is held up by other smaller
ones forming a cave. In the past, it served the Muisca
priests as a place of refuge and retreat where they
performed their sacred rituals.

This place has been dedicated to the invocation of
ancestral knowledge and meditation on the teachings
of the scriptures of India. To reach the cave, you follow
a trail through a diversified and colorful landscape,
with species of plants and trees native to the region. It
is surrounded by lagoons, rocks and caves.

The broad and exotic lookout allows you to appreciate
the most beautiful native forests of Sumapaz. Here,
you can internally connect with all the roots of
Mother Earth and feel the union between the highest
spiritual conscience and the sincere desire to acquire
transcendental knowledge.

Absorbed in pure love for the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Sri Gopesvara Mahadeva is always
meditating on The Lord, Sri Krishna. He is the one who
allows souls to enter the Holy Land of Vrindavan, the
eternal spiritual adobe. The worship of Sri Gopervara
Mahardev awakens universal consciousness, feelings
of love, and eternal service to the Supreme Lord.
This is the meditation that should be done in His name:
“Oh guardian of the entrance of the spiritual world, all
glories to You, You whose forehead is decorated with
the Moon and who is worshiped by the great saints!
Gopesvara! I want You to give me pure love for the
Supreme Lord. I offer my reverences to You again and
again.”
53

or those who wish to experience a monastic life,
Varsana and the other Eco-Yoga Villages offer a
volunteer program called “Ashram Life Volunteer”. In
this program, you can learn the science of yoga and
other ancient practices of mystical India, which has
been preserved by the Vaishnava monks to maintain a
spiritual life that is consious and profound.
During the monastic experience you learn:
Transcendental knowledge
Mantra meditation
To play instruments for meditation
To blow the sacred conch shell
To make flower garlands

In Varsanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volunteer program, you can learn many different types of artistic expression,
which belong to the sixty-four sacred arts of appreciation established in the Vedas and
directed toward worshipping Mother Earth. In the picture, you can appreciate the arts
of metalwork, sewing, flower and fruit arranging, jewelry making and wood carving,
among others.
57

INDIAN FESTIVALS
The Eco-Yoga Villages open their doors to different
festivities, activism meetings, conferences, sweat
lodges and fire ceremonies for the harmonization
and protection of living beings and of Mother Earth.
Varsana also hosts Vedic ceremonies such as marriages,
spiritual initiations and cultural events. It receives
visits of Indian swamis, inspired pilgrim, and defenders
of nature such as Vandana Shiva and Ati Quigua.

the sanctuary
The monument of “Union in Separation” is a memorial
to one of the founders of Varsana, Srila Harijan
Maharaj, the first spiritual master of Colombia. He was
one of the pioneers in bringing Indian philosophy into
the country, recording numerous materials from his
lectures and devotional chants, which are available to
the present day and have been a source of inspiration
for books about his life.
Born in Pacho, Cundinamarca, as Antonio Chaves
Bautista, he is still remembered by many people who
met him and who visit his sanctuary in Varsana. Many
of these people testify about how they have felt healing
and transformation in their lives after meditating in his
samadhi.

Varsana was declared part of the Architectural
and Cultural Patrimony of Colombia by the City
Council of Granada, Cundinamarca, in December
of 2000.

Chaski Fest is an offering to Ikwashendwna, the
Guardians of the Mother Earth. It is a call from the
Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta to the hearts of all human
beings to protect the planet from agro-chemicals
and GMOs that go against the principles of ancestral
practices, which are protectors of the five elements of
nature.

Chaski Fest features recognized and new artists who,
through different artistic genres such as music,
dance, theatre and painting, among others, share
messages related to the protection of Mother Earth,
faith, vegetarianism and the restoration of values that
have been lost over time. A Chaski has the mission of
awakening consciousness and inspiring others to be
Guardians of Mother Earth. Since we are Her seeds, we
should act in favor of Her well-being, protection and
wisdom.

The Eco-Yoga Festival is a space linked with the
University of Ancestral Wisdom (UDSA), which was
born from the World Conscious Pact - Ikwashendwna,
with the commitment of awakening individual
consciousness in all people interested in the science
of yoga.

At this event, the Eco-Yoga Villages promote the values
of a natural life, organic products from the countryside,
ancestral art, as well as planet-friendly products. The
artists participating in the Eco-Yoga festival represent
some of the arts of spiritual awakening such as music
and dance, theatre, among others. You can also attend
live conferences and lectures on topics related to the
care of nature.
The acceptance that the festival has had in Bogota
and other cities of Colombia has allowed its expansion
to other cities and countries in this world.